Improvement in sewing-machines



e. STACKPOLE. 3 sheets*sheet1 Sewing Machine.

No. 112,747. Patented March 14, 1871.

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N. PETERS. Phnln-Lithcgnpiwn Wash ngton D. c.

G. ASIACKPO-LE. Sewing Machin.

Patented March 14, 1871.

N, PETERS. PhMo-Lhhngnpher, Washington. D. C.

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e. STAGE-(POLE.

v I Sewing Machine. N0112,747. Patented-March 14, 1871.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GREENLEAF STAGKPOLE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 112,747, dated March14, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GREENLEAF STACK- POLE, of Elizabeth, in the countyof Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing isa full and exact description thereof.

material and hold it in the proper position for sewing by the aid of twoendless chains, which move together and embrace the goods with anelastic pressure between them. I operate the shuttle so that ahalf-motion or a half-reciprocation thereof serves to complete eachstitch, passing the shuttle-thread through the loop of the needle-threadby a motion in one direction for one stitch, and resting there while theneedle is withdrawn to tighten the stitch and returns, and then puttingthe shuttle-thread again through the loop in the needle-thread by areturn motion to complete another stitch. Although I have denominatedthese two series of movements as producing two stitches, I preferablymake the needle traverse two times through the same hole in the fabric,or, in other words, feed forward the goods at alternate movements of theneedle,'and allow it to rest during the intermediate movements of theneedle, so that it shall feed once, then rest during two stitches, thenfeed forward another stitch, and repeat the two stitches. I operate theneedle and shuttle in such a manner that the needle-thread and theshuttle-thread, by their mutual relations to each other, tie a squareknot at each double reciprocation of the needle, and I preferably soconduct the operation that the square knot thus produced shall be sunkinto the body of the fabric, or, in other words, shall lie entirelywithin instead of projecting beyond either face of the goods. I providemeans for exchanging this peculiar feed and substituting therefor anordinary feed, which shall move forward the goods .it for most uses.

equally after each thrust and return of the needle.

I will proceed to describe what I consider the best means for carryingout the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection in the plane between the two feed-chains; and Fig. 4 is a frontview of the machine as I prefer to adjust Fig. 5 is a side viewcorresponding to Fig. l, but showing an adjustment by the removal ofcertain small parts and the substitution of others. This figure showsonly a small portion of the machine, many of the essential parts beingomitted, but enough being shown to indicate clearly the relation andarrangement of the whole. The parts not shown in Fig. 5 are as in Fig.1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is a fixed frame-work, of cast-iron or other suitable material.

B is the driving-shaft, operated by a belt (not represented) driven by asteam-engine or other suitable power, and B is the pulley on which itruns.

B is a cam-wheel having a groove, b extending around it in the positionrepresented, and adapted to give a proper motion to the needle by meansof the lever G, which is hung on a fixed center at c, and is connectedto the needle-bar at c.

D is the needle-bar, and d the needle.

D is an awl, which is maintained either in a fixed or in an adjustableposition in the needle bar, and adapted to prick a hole in advance ofthe needle to facilitate the operation of the needle when it issubsequently thrust into the goods. This awl allows the use of a smallerneedle than would be otherwise practicable.

B is a gear-wheel keyed or otherwise fixed on the overhung end of theshaft B, so that it may be removed when required, as will presentlyappear. \rVhen firmly keyed on, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, itgives motion to the larger gear-wheel, E, which has twice the number ofteeth, and consequently turns once for every two revolutions of the mainshaft B. This slow-wheel E carries a crankpin, 6, which traverses in apeculiar slot, f, in the shuttle-lever F,which latter is hung on thefixed pivot fand reciprocates backward and forward inaslotintheframingabove, as willbe understood. This shuttle-leveroperates the shuttle-driver F, which has arms F and F which take holdloosely of the shuttle G, which traverses on a smooth raceway or trackin the proper position relatively to theneedle d. The shuttle G isrounded and pointed at each end, and can take-the loop of theneedle-thread by a motion in either direction. The contact of the arms FF with the shuttle G is sufficiently loose to allow the needle-thread topass easily over the shuttle and between it and these driving-arm.

I and J are pitch-chains,some would term them,composed of rigid linksbanded together by pivots, which make the chains flexible, without muchroom for lost motion. The inner surfaces of these pitch-chains aregeared or provided with teeth, two teeth on each link, as represented inFigs. 1 and 3. The points of the teeth are also adapted to fit and beguided in grooves in guiding-ways and guiding-pulleys.

Guiding-waysiand j are mounted at a proper distance below the path ofthe needle to allow for the links of the pitch-chains I and J above.

H and H are guiding-blocks at a little dis: tance from each end of theseguiding-ways i and j, to support and steady the chains as they approachto and recede from the vicinity of the needle.

H H, &c., are further guide-blocks and guide-rollers, each performingthe same important functions and keeping taut the pitchchains I and J.The guiderollers are adjustable in position to allow them to be shiftedfrom time to time,so as to take up any slack in the chains. It will beobserved that each is adjustable independently of the other, so that incase one chain wears more than the other, or from any cause becomesloose while the other remains taut, the pulleys on which it runs may bemoved without moving the other.

The chains I and J approach closely together and run strictly parallelfor a little distance before reaching the needle and in passing andafter passing it. Below this they diverge, and are held at a sufficientdistance apart to allow the goods to be crumpled up or folded regularlyor irregularly and to be drawn freely through the machine.

K is a guard or shield, which defends the goods as they are drawnthrough against any possibility of contact with the driving gearwheels Land L which are mounted on the shaft L and impart the properintermittent motion to the feed-chains I and J.

K is an anti-friction roller which facilitates the movement of thefabric through the machine. There may be more of these anti-frictionrollers, so as to form a continuous series, if desired.

The shaft L is provided with a ratchetwheel, 1, which is operated by thehook-pawl M, and is held after each movement by the pawl O.

The moving pawl M is operated by a lever, N, which turns on a fixedpivot, n, and receives motion in one direction from the eccentric P andin the other from the spring P.

The lever N is continued and bent downward and backward, as representedin Fig. 3. This allows it and its connections to be worked by anothermeans.

The eccentric P may be removed, and the eccentric Q being applied, thegearing (shown in Fig. 1) causes it to work only half as often asbefore. This substitution is necessary so as to feed only at alternatethrusts of the needle when it is desired to make two thrusts in the sameplace and tie the square knot in the center of the thickness of thegoods.-

The guidewayi is' firmly fixed, and is incapable of movement in anydireceion. The guideway j is supported against any rising and sinkingmotion, but is allowed to move laterally under the action of the springj, which by yielding allow the chain J to move away from the oppositechain, I, and to return again by the elastic action of the spring toallow for the irregularities in the thickness in the material beingsewed.

It will be understood that the pitch-chains I J, which I sometimesdenominate simply ieed-chaii1s,may be held much wider apart in the lowerportion of their path than is here represented. I assume it important tohold them at a sufficient distance apart to allow the goods being sewedto be drawn through the space thus provided without clogging. Beyondthis I do not esteem it beneficial to in crease the divergence of thechains; but it may, if desired, be increased until the chains traversein planes which are nearly horizontal. Such an extraordinary divergenceof the lower portion of the chains would, however, involve areconstruction of the machine.

There is an arched brace, a, which connects the framing above thechains. It is important to arch it at a sufficient height to allow forthe edge of the material being sewed, even when the stitches are placedata considerable depth on the fabric, or, in other words, when the edgesproject up above the path of the needle. This brace may be omittedaltogether, if desired, provided the framing of the machine be madesufficiently stiff to support itself firmly without such assistance.

The provision for spools, tensions, and various other importantfunctions and parts of sewing-machines will not, it is believed, requireparticular description. I propose to sew with any kind of thread ortwine, or in some cases with fine wire. In short, I propose to use anyordinary or suitable material as a thread and to sew any ordinary orsuitable work.

In oversea'ming it is necessary to raise and lower the work at eachstitch, or rather at alternate stitches or thrusts,ot'ft he needle. My

invention allows admirably for this by providin g for making a portionof the framing niovable up and down within the main framing. Thisportion is designated A. All the supports for the feed-chains, andconsequently plete square knot at that point between the the feed-chainsthemselves, are carried thereon, and in consequence a vertical movementof the framing A carries the feed-chains and the fabric inclosed thereinwith acorresponding motion up and down. There are slides on the framingA adapted to guide the framing A smoothly and steadilyin anyverticalmovement which may be imparted to it, and there arepinching-screws or set-screws a,which are capable of holding the framingA firmly in its most elevated position when it is desired. 111 ordinarysewing the set-screws a are tightened and theframing A is heldimmovably, so that it forms in effect a part of the main framin g A.

When it is desired to overseam, the setscrews a are slackened andentirely loosened which causes the framing A and its attachments toslide up and down as it is impelled alternately upward and downwardunder the influence of the eccentrics or cams Q, carried on the shaft Q,and receiving motion from the gear-wheel E, so as to revolve once foreach two strokes or thrusts of the needle. This ovcrseaming arrangementI esteem merely a modification of the provisions-for overseamin g in apatent granted tome dated June 22, 1869. The square knot is tied in thethreads by the mutual action of the needle and shuttle.

The employment of the awl D to punch a hole in advance of the needleallows the needle to be quite blunt, and also allows it to be beveled inone direction or the other, so as to be pretty certain to go over orunder a thread previously laid in itspath. The needle, ashas beenalready explained,is thrust twice through the same hole in the goods.The'first time it enters and returns the thread passes through it in thesame direction the goods are fed, and leaves a thread lying properly inthe loop thus formed, which, by employinga proper tension on the needle,is drawn partly or entirely into the fabric. Now, the next thrust of theneedle into the same hole passes over this thread previously laid,crossing its path, and on returning and forming a slack in theneedle-thread, as usual, the shuttle in its return movementto wit, themovement opposite to that in which the goods are fed-again. passes theshuttlethread through the needle-thread to form another loop; but, as itis obvious thatthere is nothing remaining to hold the slack of theshuttle-thread, it will drag along behind the shuttle, and there being aproper amount of tension on the shuttle-thread, there will be but verylittle slack thus traveling behind. The result, in short, is a loop ofthread traveling behind the shuttle, which, when the shuttle has reachedthe end of its backward motion, is drawn up quite to the path of theneedle. Now, on the return of the needle the slack of theneedle-threadisa second time drawn back through the goods, and it isfound that as it tightens the tension and draws this compound loop thusformed into or near the center of the thickness of the goods there isformed a comshuttle-thread and the needle-threadthat is to say, theneedle-thread reaches from one face of the goods into and a little pastthe center of the thickness of the goods, and there forms a bight in theshape ofa small rounded loop of a horseshoe 'form, and returns, whilethe shuttle-thread is found lying drawn in from the opposite face of thegoods, passing through that small loop of the needle-thread, and bendingthence quite around the doubled needle-th read and back again throughthe small loop of the needle-thread, and emerges from the goods.'

It is desirable, under some circumstances, to work the machine with ashuttle having the ordinary motion-that is to say, performing a completereciprocation for each reciprocation of the needle. I have provided forreadily changing my machine from the one condition to the other bysimply changing a few of the parts. I provide a spare lever, B, adaptedto fit and turn upon the pin 1' and to take hold of the shuttle at itsupper extremity. Before applying this lever I remove the shuttle-leverF, previously described, and also remove the large gear-wheel E and thesmall gear-wheel B and apply the eccentric T and eccentricstrap T, whichlatter is connected by a short arm, T to the lower end of thesubstituted shuttle-lever It. Now,-as thus changed, the machine will befound to throw the shuttle (not, as before, simply in one direction foreach thrust and return of the needle, but to throw the shuttle) forwardand return, or, in other words, to produce a complete reciprocation ofthe shuttle for each reciprocation of the n eedle. When working in thiscondition an ordinary and single-pointed shuttle may be used, and is onsome accounts preferable, and the sewing, due attention being paid toother points, will be the shuttle-stitch of the ordinary longa-pprovedcharacter.

Although I have described the machine as sewing carpets'and analogoussoft fabrics, I do not intend to limit its use thereto. I propose to sewany material which is capable of being so treated.

My machineis especially adapted to sewing paper in many thicknesses injoining the leaves of books, and is especially usefulin sewing to:gether the parts at the backs of pamphlets. The stitching in this classof work as ordinarily conducted, and knotted by hand after eachoperation, is liable to give out from the loosenbe made to follow eachother between the feed- I chains I and J. There being a knot in eachstitch, the failure of one knot does not perceptibly weaken thefastening of the pamphlet.

Though I have describedthe overseaming movement as effected by theraising and lowering of the feed-chains I J and their severalattachments, by moving the frame A \'ertically in the frame A, it willbe obvious that a similar result will be effected by working thefeed-chains I J and their attachments in fixed paths and giving acorresponding up -anddown motion to the portion of the frame whichguides the needle-bar D.

It is easy to make in separate parts that portion ot'thet'rame-workwhich guides the needlebarDand the shnttleG, and to give it,and consequently the needle and shuttle, corresponding changes of level atalternate strokes or thrusts ot' the needle. I can, if necessary in anyparticular work, make both these parts movable, so that the necessarychanges of level at the alternate thrusts of the needle may be eti'ectedpartly by lowering the feed-chains, and thus lowering the work which hasbeen sewed, and partly by raising the needle and shuttle, and on thesucceeding thrust correspondingly raising the work and lowering theneedle and shuttle.

I have spoken of employing spring-pressure to force thefeed-ehainstogether. Fig.4 shows springsj acting through the medium of rolls j. Iprefer one such roll a little before the needle, so as to act againstthe goods before they are sewed, and another just behind the needle.These, being at a higher level, hold the feed-ehains firmly together atthe upper edge at these points and give firmness and certainty to thefeed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. The combination, with sewing-machines, of the feeding-chainsadapted to receive the material between their faces, hold it firmlywhile passing beyond the needle, and discharge it.

2. The combination of feeding-chains and the horizontally reciprocatingneedle, when operated, substantially as described, to form stitchesalternately through the material and over the edge.

3. The. gear-wheels B E and their connections, communicating a slowermovement to the shuttle mechanism than to the needle, so as to performonly a half-reciprocation ot' the shuttle for each completereciprocation of the needle, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setm y name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

G. STAOKPOLE.

Witnesses THOMAS D. S'rE'rsoN, O. O. LIVINGS.

